#HarrisDCemberVaycay

Our youngest daughter graduated high school in May of this year, but never had time in her schedule for a senior trip.  We decided that Christmas vacation from college would be the perfect time to go.  After much debate (and a final word from Mr. H), Washington D.C. was named as the destination.

Mr. H and I had been there back before we had any children, but that was about 30 years ago.  Some things haven't changed at all, others have changed significantly!

The discussion happening here is not as heated as it appears.

Mr. H and the 2 youngest H girls.

The girls are almost recreating a picture taken by my brother about 30 years ago.

I think this is one of the coolest monuments I've ever seen.  We approached it from the street, which is the back side.  You can't see the face of the center section until you walk between the 2 rear pieces and past the cut out piece. 

OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN OF DESPAIR
A STONE OF HOPE

She's posing with that other Eleanor.

This is where we got lunch that first day.  The street was lined with food trucks serving just about every kind of food imaginable.

We had some time to spare before we had to be somewhere that evening.  A Starbucks with some outside tables was the perfect spot to sit and watch.  D.C. is just about as different from home as can be imagined! All those lights and all those people!

We had tickets for the Kennedy Center to see "Matilda the Musical" that night.  Before it started we went to a free concert called "Merry TubaChristmas" on the Millennium Stage of the Concert Hall. 

I have never seen this many tubas and euphoniums (or should that be euphonia?) all in one place. The stage as well as the box and 1st and 2nd tier levels on both sides were full of musicians of all ages and skill levels.  They played carols arranged specifically for this instrumentation. It was great fun.

(Photos were NOT allowed in the Opera House where we saw Matilda the Musical!)

The following day, which was wet and much colder, we spent indoors as much as possible.  We took a tour of the Capital, which is currently being renovated.

Here's Mr. H standing by the statue from his state of birth. There are 2 statues from each state in various places throughout the Capital.

You can see the plastic surrounding the Apotheosis of Washington at the eye of the Rotunda. Floor level of the Rotunda was filled with scaffolding, so it was difficult to see it.

The next 2 pictures are of the Library of Congress. I believe this has got to be one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever been inside.

The following day had much better weather, but it was just as cold. We went out to Mount Vernon for a tour of George Washington's home. "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" has had an impact on the venue.  We took the National Treasure tour, which allowed us to go into the basement. The tour also took us down to the riverfront to see the door to the Icehouse tunnel. Walking a bit farther, we could see the front of the house itself way up on the hill

We did miles of walking while we were in the city. 

We did WAY more driving to get to and from D.C.

I'm just glad that my everyday commute doesn't look like this: